FOUR members from the Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party have officially announced their defection to the ruling People’s National Congress Party.

Their move now brings the membership of the PNC to 56, making it the largest political party in the history of the country.

The MPs include Ijivitari MP David Arore, Sohe MP and Minister for Higher Education Delilah Gore, Kiriwina-Goodenough MP and Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa and Mendi Open MP De Kewanu.

The office of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates said the necessary instruments were in order for the MPs to switch allegiance to the PNC.

Party members and Finance Minister James Marape, supported by National Planning Minister Charles Abel and deputy PNC leader (Momase) and Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming, also announced that Talasea MP Francis Marus and Menyamya MP Benjamin Philip had moved over.

Mr Marape told reporters during a press conference after the adjournment of National Parliament the Government was intact and they showed their numerical strength to adjourn parliament to August 26 yesterday.

He said the membership of the PNC was by far the single largest and he anticipates a further increase.

"We have four additional members that have joined PNC on Monday night when we had our caucus meeting.

"They are David Arore, Delilah Gore, Douglas Tomuriesa and also De Kewany with Benjamin Philip and Francis Marus," he said.

However, THE Party parliamentary leader and Kandep MP Don Polye said last night that his members have not joined PNC as no official instruments were signed.

"I am very, very aware of the MPs in there, joining the meeting there last night," Mr Polye said.

"They have to go through a process so that statement is misleading and not true."